Inspira Philly!

Check out Philadelphia's Inspira Theatre Company, they have a great Mission Statement!

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Mr. Kolpert

I am stage managing for an Inspira Theatre Company production of MR. KOLPERT a play by David Gieselmann.  My friend Mike Monroe is directing the play.  He directed the American Premiere of the German play back in 2001, and we have had some great conversations about the meaning of the play being so different than when it was produced in 2001, at the University of South Florida.  For that production, the university flew in the playwright, David Gieselmann, who met with them, and offered his insights.  What has changed for American audiences is our meaning of violence since the 9/11 attack.  When Mike first directed this show, it was in a pre-9/11 mind state, and the meaning of the violence and the lessons from it are not entirely the same anymore.  The characters of the play commit violent and shocking acts because of boredom.  Then, as now, times were violent enough that a person would kill their boss, but not for the same reasons as today!  I have been reading about past productions, the play has been produced all over the world.  Apparently, it's message is one that every culture can interpret quite differently.  For example, in London, the question "but where did he get a gun?" doesn't get a laugh, like it does from American audiences.  In London, it's a valid question, although maybe not so much in Philly.  Also, there are several productions that shy away from the play's realistic portrayal of violence, instead stylizing the actor's movements, and presenting the entire scene as absurdist theatre.  

Here are two productions of Mr. Kolpert that I found on Youtube: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I7elpNaVN4
A trailer from a theatre production of Herra Kolbert (Herr Kolpert / Mr Kolpert) by David Gieselmann, directed by Jon Pall Eyjólfsson. A production of Leikfelag Akureyrar, Akureyri Theatre company, Iceland. www.leikfelag.is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1aevzsb37Q
a french production, MONSIEUR KOLPERT theatre du Rond-Point

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Philadelphia!

I've moved my family three times since my last post!  I can't tell wether I really am elated or  if I'm just exhausted, but it is nice to be back "in civilization."  The Arts are happening all around me here;  I'm sure I've seen more art & culture here in my first five weeks in Philadelphia, than my entire five years out west.  (Sorry Colorado~ you know I love you, but am I lying?)  I left Woodland Park, Colorado in January, arriving in Ephrata, Pennsylvania on February 1st.  Beautiful farmland, if you don't mind sharing the road with the horse drawn carriages of the Amish.  Looking out the windows in Ephrata I could count 9 different corn silos!  9!  In the next ten days I was residing in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where I have met some wonderful people through an old college friend, and I have finally settled in Philadelphia, PA.  The city is decorated with murals everywhere!  I had thought to write a book on the subject, but have found there are already a few, I'll post my recommends here.  Anyway, I'm glad to be home in Philadelphia!   

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